Stan Laurel's secret jibes at 'mean, cheap' Charlie Chaplin: How the relationship between the two slapstick actors was no laughing matter

 Think of Stan Laurel and Charlie Chaplin and most of us will smile remembering their brilliant slapstick.

But it seems the relationship between the pair - who shared a room together while on tour in the US - was no laughing matter.

In a letter written 60 years ago, which has just come to light, Cumbrian-born Laurel described Chaplin as 'vile and wretched' with 'symptoms of madness'.

When he was a music hall entertainer for Fred Karno's company in 1910 and 1912, Laurel was his rival's student.

In a letter written in 1957 he said: 'I have to agree with you that Chaplin is mean and mean, to my knowledge he never had any consideration for anyone - financially or otherwise, he had There was also no time for his close friends who had worked with him in his early days. I remained closely associated with Charlie for two-three years.

'I was his student and shared rooms with him on several occasions, so am fully aware of his peculiarities.'

Speaking about his mood swings in a letter to Ed Patterson, a friend in Hove, East Sussex, he said: 'He was a very eccentric character, with many moods, sometimes with symptoms of madness, which I think it evolved even more after becoming famous. And luck...'

But he also acknowledged his talent and added: 'In my opinion, he is still the greatest artist in his field.'

Laurel and Hardy expert Roger Robinson was struck by the 'strong' wording of the letter: 'It's surprising because usually the way Laurel put things was very diplomatic.'

The letter is expected to fetch around £1,000 when auctioned by Bonhams in London on December 13.

Chaplin biographer David Robinson has described it as 'extraordinary'.

He said: 'Stan – whom I had the pleasure of interviewing once – seems to be a very sweet-natured man, and I think that's evident here, even if he is criticizing Chaplin's private personality. . He still insists that his old colleagues are the best in the comedy business.

I'm guessing he was responding to his correspondent's complaint that Chaplin had not responded to an old associate's plea for help - but that's a guess.'

In a letter (pictured) written in 1957, he said: 'I have to agree with you that Chaplin is mean and mean, to my knowledge he never had any consideration for anyone – financially or otherwise, for his He never had time for any of his close friends who had worked with him in his early days. I remained closely associated with Charlie for two-three years.